Portable reading desk



April 30, 1968 c. BYARS 3,380,701

PORTABLE READING DESK Filed March 17, 1966 ZOGA/V 6. 155 425 INVENTOR.

ArrOEA/EVS United States Patent 3,380,701 PORTABLE READING DESK Logan C. Byars, 6311 Stafford Ave., Huntington Park, Calif. 90255 Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 535,099 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-459) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable reading desk utilizing two members formed of sheet material, one member is triangular in side aspect and forming a sloping book supporting surface having an upturned holding flange along its lower margin and a slot adjacent its upper margin. The other member also has a book supporting surface with a flange along its lower margin. In addition, a tongue extends from the second member through the slot in the first member to hold the second member above and back of the first member.

This invention relates to portable reading desks and a primary object is:

To provide a portable reading desk which includes a first book holder, preferably formed of sheet plastic, the book holder being triangular in end aspect to form a normally horizontal bottom side, an upright rear side and inclined top side, the latter having a book stop along its lower margin; and which further includes a second book holder forming an inclined book supporting member bordered by a book stop along its lower margin, and a special tongue arranged to extend through a slot in the rear side of the first book holder so that the second book holder is removably supported by the first book holder.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the portable read ing desk.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end view thereof with the second book holder shown in solid lines in its operating position, and in broken lines in its storage position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken within circle 3 of FIGURE 2.

The portable reading desk includes a first book holder 1, preferably formed of stiff sheet plastic material. The first book holder includes a bottom wall 2, a rear or upright wall 3 and a top wall 4, the lower extremity of the top wall being joined to the bottom wall so that the first book holder is triangular in side aspect. The lower margin of the top wall 4 is provided with an upwardly extending book retaining flange 5.

The walls forming the book holder are of equal width and the flange 5 may extend the full width of the book holder. The top wall is preferably rectangular and has a greater width than depth so as to support a book with its pages open.

Near its upper margin adjacent the top wall 4, the rear wall 3 is provided with an elongated slot 6 occupying about two-thirds the width of the book holder.

A second book holder 7 is provided which is also formed of relatively stiff plastic sheet material. The second book holder includes a rectangular book supporting plate 8 having a book retainer flange 9 formed along one margin. Cemented or otherwise secured to the underside of the book supporting plate 8, is a mounting plate 10 which includes a tongue 11 projecting from the flanged margin of the supporting plate 8. The tongue 11 is dimensioned to fit the slot 6 so as to extend under the top wall 4. The extremity of the tongue bears against the underside of the top wall so as to support the second book holder in a cantilevered manner from the rear side of the first book holder 1.

The two book holders may be readily joined or sep arated and when the second book holder is separated from the first book holder, it may be stored in the triangular space formed by the walls of the first book holder as indicated by broken lines in FIGURE 2.

While the two book holders are shown equal in width, it should be noted that the lower book holder may be constructed so as to project laterally so as to support a pair of books if desired.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable reading desk, comprising:

(a) a first book holder having an inclined book supporting wall, and a book retaining flange at its lower margin;

(b) a second book holder having a book supporting plate and a book retaining flange at one margin thereof;

(c) readily separable means connecting said book holders, to locate the book retaining flange of the second book holder contiguous to the upper margin of the first book holder, and to support said book supporting plate at a greater incline than said book supporting wall;

((1) said connecting means including a depending wall at the upper margin of said book supporting wall having a slot therein below said book supporting wall, and a tongue extending from said second book holder through said slot and bearing against the underside of said book supporting wall.

2. A portable reading desk, comprising:

(a) a first book holder having an inclined book supporting wall, and a book retaining flange at its lower margin;

(b) a second book holder having a book supporting plate and a book retaining flange at one margin thereof;

(c) readily separable means connecting said book holders, to locate the book retaining flange of the second book holder contiguous to the upper margin of the first book holder, and to support said book supporting plate at a greater incline than said book supporting wall;

(d) said first book holder being formed of sheet material, and further including a horizontal bottom wall and a vertical back wall joining said bottom wall and book supporting wall to define a storage space, and said second book holder being dimensioned to fit within said storage space.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,293 5/1900 French 248-456 681,976 9/1901 Rathvon 248-456 2,224,530 12/1940 Weinstein 248-456 2,003,746 6/1935 Headington 248-456 2,669,058 2/ 1954 Fadeley 248-441 3,119,194 1/196'4 Ray 248-459 3,176,953 4/1965 Magers 211-42 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

